Thefts at some of Britain's most prestigious gardens have soared to more than
one a month leading to an increase in CCTV

Britain's most spectacular botanical gardens have been forced to beef up their security as green fingered thieves target valuable rare plants.

The worrying phenomenon has dramatically increased in recent years, forcing attractions including the Royal Horticultural Society's garden at Wisley, Surrey, and the Royal Botanic Gardens in both Kew and Edinburgh to assess security and install extra CCTV.

Experts fear that rare plants such as orchids from Asia and South America are being stolen to order for collectors or sold on the black market, where they can fetch up to several hundred pounds each.

Certain snowdrops worth up to £100 each are a common target and the recent theft of a variety known as Galanthus Mighty Atom from Wisley was branded “appalling”.

"People know exactly what they're stealing. They are knowledgeable. They are undoubtedly collectors which is quite disappointing, sad, frustrating and annoying."

David Knott, curator

Matthew Pottage, the garden’s curator, said that such theft used to be reserved to "just the odd plant" but had now become a serious concern.

He told Horticulture Week magazine: "The theft of plants at Wisley has increased in frequency over the past three years to around 10-15 plants a year.

"The thefts have included woody and alpine plants, perennials and bulbs and have focused on some of the more unusual cultivars.

The scene of the stolen Galanthus Mighty Atom from Wisley

“It is very upsetting for the team who treasure our collections.

"We will be stepping up measures to stop this unsavoury activity and we will not let it dilute the excellent diversity of our plant collections."

Mr Pottage said all thefts were reported to the police and that the RHS was “vigorously” looking at ways to combat the problem.

In 2013, the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Hampshire had so many rare snowdrops stolen that they began keeping them on limited display.

The gardens also lost a rare species of mahonia within a week of putting it on display and a rare illicium henryi Star of Anise bush which originates from western China.

The overnight thefts prompted the installation of a high wire boundary fence and motion cameras in newly planted areas.

Meanwhile at Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens in Dorset, thieves are believed to have dug up newly planted, valuable banksia plants in 2014, snipping off their stems and stealing the roots before replacing the stalks to cover their tracks.